To the average person, this picture may just look like children playing with pattern blocks but to me it was so much more! This activity is included in “Toys and Play,” our first EL module, where students are learning how to work together, play together, and take care of our materials as they become play experts! Our EL curriculum gives children a chance to play and explore while also teaching our scholars the importance of having good character. At the beginning of the year, sometimes it is hard for me to let go and just let the kids explore, but as they worked independently, the conversations I heard were incredible for nearly new kindergartners! So I decided I need to write them down and share them with the world. Here are just a few of the conversations I overheard:"I love what you are making, what do you think if we take mine apart and we make yours bigger?""I will be happy to share my green piece with you because I see you need just one more.""Yours is so cool! Can we make something together?"I even had an entire table realize, on their own, that they could put all of their pieces together to work together and make something really amazing!​Now don't get me wrong, this was a learning opportunity and I did have a few scholars who initially wanted to snatch from others. I stepped in and helped to problem solve, but later in the day, one of the children that was snatching came to me and said they needed to apologize to the person they snatched from and their entire class! I realized that these little minds at work today will most definitely contribute to making our world a better place in the future!​Joanna Richardson, Kindergarten teacher